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Late one afternoon David got out of bed after taking a nap and went for a stroll on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. —2 Samuel 11:2
In this verse, we can see an example of the three main roots of sin that tempt all men: “the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions” (1 John 2:16). Most sin begins with the eyes, just as the first sin entered the world when Eve saw the fruit. Genesis 3:6 says, “The fruit looked so fresh and delicious.” David’s eyes caused him to lust, starting a cycle of violence and anarchy in his kingdom. His lustful eyes brought forth sin, and it cost him many years and much heartache to extricate himself from that sin. David finally said, “I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar” (Psalm 101:3). Job, too, echoed this thought when he said, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman” (Job 31:1). Sinful living comes with a high price tag. A line from a famous sermon conveys it well: “Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” Be ruthless against lustful thoughts and imaginations. You may think the pleasure is great, but the payoff will only bring heartache.
Suggested Reading:
2 Samuel 9:1-11:27
John 15:1-27
Psalm 119:49-64
Proverbs 16:1-3